A World Apart The Jake Thomas Trilogy - By Steven A. Tolle Page 0,159

wagon." He told them. "Marcus, you and girl will need to carry the boy. I will carry Jonas." With that, he went to the horses and tied Dontas' reins to Shadow's pommel. He reached down and wrapped his arms around Jonas, getting him to his feet. Jonas was weak and unsteady, but Dominic kept one arm wrapped tightly around him as he took Shadows' reins, slowing walking back towards the camp. Marcus and Hailyn maneuvered Jake between them and followed.

It was slow going; both Jonas and Jake were weak and could only go so far before stumbling. They finally reached the campsite, the dead soldiers and half-men Marcus had finished lying where they fell, the small fire now glowing embers. Hailyn was glad to see that, in the rush of the battle, the horses and wagon had been left untouched.

Setting the staff aside, Hailyn quickly laid out some blankets in the wagon bed, pushing the supplies to the side and making room for Jake and Jonas. Dominic and Marcus got them into the bed, then covered them with blankets. They both quickly fell asleep.

"Come along, lordling." Dominic said to Marcus as he grabbed a small shovel from the supplies. Dominic walked into the clearing and began to dig shallow graves for the fallen soldiers while he had Marcus strip them of their armor and weapons. Hailyn sent clerics' fire into the remains of the half-men, turning them to ash. She sat on the bench of the wagon, watching over Jake and Jonas as they slept.

Once the soldiers were buried, Dominic tied off Shadow and Dontas to the back of the wagon, as well as the soldiers' mounts. He climbed onto the wagon bench while Marcus swung into the saddle of his horse.

"We need to find shelter tonight." Dominic said as he started the wagon in motion. "The horses need rest and we cannot defend ourselves with Jonas and the boy out of the fight. We will head to the miners' camp. They owe us for Jonas' healing."

Marcus nodded, taking the lead, watching the surrounding woods. Dominic leaned over to Hailyn as they reached the road and turned towards the camp. "You may need to prove you are a cleric when we reach there. Be ready." He said.

He paused, weighing his words, then continued. "Also, while we are there, you are not to leave my or Marcus' sight. While most will respect that you are a cleric, these men are rough and have not seen a woman in many days. We don't want anyone to make a mistake." Hailyn nodded, understanding.

"So, what happened to him?" He asked, nodding back towards Jake. She told Dominic what had happened after he and Jonas had left, the battle and Jake's attempt to save them. She tried to describe the explosion of white fire, but told Dominic that she had no idea what it was. She asked how he and Jonas found them.

Dominic explained that he and Jonas had ridden the horses hard, racing back to the camp. When they arrived, they found the dead soldiers and had ridden after the obvious trail the half-men had left. They were almost to them when they saw the bright flash ahead. When they arrived, she was laying next to a tree, unconscious, with Marcus standing over her. Dominic had left them to Jonas and went into the depression and found Jake as he was when he carried him up.

"There was no trace of the demons or half-men." Dominic said, glancing back at Jake. "I only found clothes and weapons."

They came up to the miners' camp, the watch fires still burning. They were stopped as they approached the gates, but Petrous recognized Dominic and let them through. After Dominic explained what they wanted, Petrous agreed and sent them over to the main building.

Hailyn, as she stepped off the wagon to check on Jake and Jonas, could feel eyes on her. She turned to see a couple of the men leering at her, their eyes predatory. She held their gaze, trying to show she was not intimidated, when Dominic stepped up behind her. She saw the lust replaced with fear as Dominic stared coldly at the men, hand on his sword. They quickly went over to the palisade.

After they moved Jake and Jonas into the building and fed the horses, Dominic went over to Petrous to let him know that, until they left, the wagon and building were off-limits to his men. If he caught any trying to enter,